Millennials And Their Health - Should We Be Worried?

Over the last several years the millennial generation, born from 1981 to 1996, have shown that they are very different from previous generations in several ways. Recent data from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association shows the beginnings of troubling generational health patterns that could hamper the future prosperity of millennials. More than half of young adults (nearly 54%) now deal with at least one chronic health issue, and almost one in every four (22%) have two or more chronic medical conditions

So how are millennials at risk, and what should they be doing to protect their future health?

Who Are Millennials?

Millennials are seeing their health decline faster than the previous generation as they age.

Millennials make up the largest share of the U.S. population and labor force.

What Health Conditions Are Impacting Millennials Most?

The top 10 health conditions impacting millennials, according to BlueCross BlueShield Health Index data:

• Major depression
• Alcohol use disorder
• Hypertension
• Hyperactivity
• Psychotic conditions
• Crohn's disease
• High cholesterol
• Tobacco use disorder
• Type 2 diabetes

Six of these health conditions are behavioral health conditions that affect a person's mental health and emotional well-being. The remaining are physical health conditions that affect the cardiovascular, digestive and endocrine systems.

Why Are Millennials Experiencing This?

About 44% of older millennials born between 1981 and 1988 report having been diagnosed with at least one chronic health condition, according to a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of CNBC Make It. This survey points out that the obesity epidemic may be one of the root causes of the rise in rates of hypertension, diabetes and even certain types of cancer. 20.1% of U.S. millennials are obese, compared with 32.5% of non-millennial adults.

Unhealthy lifestyles were often a part of the mix for people with chronic conditions. Young adults "with a chronic condition were more likely than those without one to report binge drinking, smoking or physical inactivity," a CDC research team found.

Certain factors seemed to raise a person's odds for the leading chronic health condition, obesity. For example, about one-third of young adults living in rural areas were obese, compared to about one-quarter of city dwellers. Black Americans were somewhat more likely to be dealing with obesity than whites — 33.7% versus 23.9%, respectively.

Vision In Millennials

According to the CDC, vision problems develop most often in older people, so if you're a millennial aged 25 to 35, eye trouble can seem like a long way off. But it may be closer than you think.

These simple tips can help you protect your vision for the future.

• Give your eyes a rest. Phones, television, computers – screens are all around us, all day long. Practice the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet in front of you.
• Protect your eyes – at work and at play. Wear protective eyewear that blocks 99-100% of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation when playing sports or doing activities outside such as yard work. Also protect your eyes from injury when doing work around the home, such as home repairs. To make sure you have the right kind of protective eyewear and you're using it correctly, talk with your eye doctor.
• Eat right to protect your sight. Eat plenty of dark, leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens and fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, albacore tuna, trout, and halibut.
• Quit smoking or never start.
• Use contact lenses safely. Wash your hands before handling your contacts and keep them clean to avoid infection.
• Get plenty of physical activity to boost your mood, reduce stress, and help you stay at a healthy weight. This can prevent the development of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, which can lead to diabetic eye diseases and vision loss.
• Know your family's eye health history. It's important to know if your parents, grandparents, or others in your family have been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition, since some are hereditary.
• Get eye exams as recommended by your eye doctor.

Millennials And Mental Health

A 2015 study by American University said that Millennials grew up hearing about anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and suicide, and they are more accepting of others with mental illness. Millennials are more likely to talk about mental health than their parents or grandparents.

Business Insider looked at the mental-health state of millennials. The forecast for millennials' mental health doesn't look pretty - depression and "deaths of despair" are both on the rise among the generation, linked to issues such as loneliness and money stress.

While some millennials can't afford to get help, they're more likely to go to therapy than previous generations, destigmatizing the concept in the process.

The Workplace And Millennial Health

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, millennials will soon be the largest segment in the workplace, expected to grow to 50 percent of the workforce within the next two years - and by 2030, that number will increase to 75 percent of the U.S. workforce.

A new study published in the Psychological Bulletin found that Millennials strive for a higher level of perfectionism compared to older generations. This level of high achievement brings elevated expectations, which has shown to increase the rate of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation.

Instead of competing, millennials should be encouraged to help each other climb the corporate ladder together. Teamwork can not only decrease stress in the workplace but can also create friendships and support outside of the workplace.